Developmental genomics and evolution

Our general research interests fall within the field of Evolutionary Developmental Biology. Development filters and generates variation in traits that is presented to selection. Environmental factors, on the other hand, play a critical role in shaping the phenotype in nature. Our lab endeavours to bridge the contribution of developmental genetic mechanisms and selective pressures in shaping animal diversity (Santos et al 2015). To do this, we integrate general concepts and tools from various fields of biological studies, including development, ecology, evolution, and comparative genomics and transcriptomics. With this approach, our goal is to add a contribution, even minor, to the current understanding of the mechanisms underlying species diversification by providing the link between the phenotype, the genotype, and the selective environment (Khila et al. 2012; Armisen et al. 2015).

The model system: Tools

Our primary model of study is a group of water walking insects also known as semi-aquatic bugs. These are predatory heteropteran insects, characterised by their ability to live on the water surface, and include water striders, pond skaters, and other relatives. We have recently made an unequalled progress in transferring state of the art developmental genetics and gene function analyses tools to a number of species (Khila 2009; 2012; 2014; Refki et al. 2014; Santos et al. 2015). We built a breeding facility where we keep over 30 different species, allowing for detailed studies of various aspects of their adaptation. We also generated a large set of sequence data including the whole transcriptomes of ~100 species as well as a couple of genomes.

The model system: Ecology

The conquest of new ecological habitats is often associated with lineage diversification, and accounts for much of the animal diversity observed in nature. The semi-aquatic bugs have conquered water surfaces worldwide, and represent by far the group of insects the most dominating in these habitats. Because of this striking life history, the semi-aquatic bugs have fascinated scientists from various disciplines, including naturalists, applied mathematicians, ecologists, Taxonomists, Palaeontologists, and recently developmental geneticists. This broad interest together with the well-understood ecology of adaptation in the semi-aquatic bugs constitutes the necessary foundation for integrative studies of the interplay between developmental genetic processes and the ecological environment in shaping animal diversity.